Two days later, Jeok Yorap opened his eyes.
He wasn't fully conscious. He just opened them for a moment and then closed them again.
Still, it was a good sign that he was regaining consciousness.
An unfamiliar place, unfamiliar people.
Cho Myung felt awkward walking around the Hua Family Clinic.
So he didn't take a single step outside of Longevity Hall.
No one said anything about it. Not Hua Yunhui, not Seokcheong, and not Old Man Ban.
After a few more days like that, Cho Myung began to feel a little stuffy in his life at Longevity Hall.
Children have a characteristic vibrant activity, but since he was suppressing it and only staying in Longevity Hall, it was natural to feel stuffy.
Then one day, when Seokcheong went to get lunch, he took Cho Myung with him.
He had noticed that Cho Myung was feeling stuffy.
Cho Myung, who saw another part of the Hua Family Clinic for the first time, was surprised at how much wider it was than he had thought.
Until it was revered as the Divine Doctor Family of the Divine Land, the number of people staying within the clinic was about a few hundred, so its scale was comparable to a decent martial arts sect.
Anyway, from that day on, he always went with Cho Myung to get meals.
"Let's eat lunch."
Hua Yunhui, who had returned from Healing Hall, said as soon as he entered Longevity Hall.
Unlike Longevity Hall, where critical patients stayed, Healing Hall was a place where general patients stayed, so there was always a shortage of doctors' hands.
Hua Yunhui, who was almost in charge of Longevity Hall, also had to visit Healing Hall every day to practice his medical skills.
"It's hot, so hot!"
Summer was now beginning in earnest, and it was so hot during the day that just moving around made you sweat.
"Big brother, sit here."
Cho Myung quickly brought out a chair and placed it in a well-ventilated and shady place. Then he went back inside and brought a glass of water.
"Oh, thanks. Stonehead went to the kitchen first."
Stonehead was the nickname Hua Yunhui used to call Seokcheong.
"Then I'll go too."
"Don't run."
"Okay."
Cho Myung, who was running to the kitchen, quickly walked.
But as soon as he left Longevity Hall, the sound of him running was heard.
"He's already not listening."
"If you tell a winged beast to only walk on the ground, will it listen?"
Old Man Ban said as he came out of the patient room.
He was walking very slowly, one step at a time.
He was properly imitating a seriously ill patient who had just started walking.
He had been able to move his body a month ago, but he hadn't moved because his will to live had died.
Hua Yunhui got up from his chair.
"Don't overdo it and sit here."
Old Man Ban, who had come outside, sat on the chair that Hua Yunhui had offered.
Hua Yunhui, who didn't want to stand, sat down on the bare floor.
"I know he's not ordinary. But that's why we might have to be more careful. A power that can't be controlled can go berserk at any time for any reason. You know that well too, old man, since you're a martial artist."
"That's true."
Old Man Ban nodded.
Although he had walked the path of a martial artist far from internal energy, how could he not know about the strength and danger of internal energy?
"But old man."
"...?"
"Do you have money?"
"Money?"
"Yes. If you have any, give it to me."
"When I came to my senses here, I found that someone had taken all the money I had."
"Was it seven silver taels? I found it and gave it to my sister. But is that all?"
"That's right, but why do you ask?"
"Old man, do you know that you have at most a year to live?"
"With your ability, I thought it would be two years, but it's only one year?"
"If I could use the clinic's elixirs freely, that much would be possible."
"Ah, so that's why you asked if I had money?"
"You don't have any?"
"I don't. Sadly, I'm going to die a year earlier because I don't have money. Should I go and steal somewhere?"
"With that body?"
"Couldn't you and that kid Cheong help me?"
"Just go a year earlier. An adult is trying to make kids steal? Just to live one more year?"
"You rascal, it's not just one year to me."
"Do you have that much you want to teach Myung?"
"...!"
"Don't be surprised. You suddenly want to live, and you've been watching that kid Myung all day, how could I not know?"
"I must have been impatient."
"Whether you were impatient or not, you can tell me things like that. The person closest to the patient is the doctor, no matter what anyone says. Moreover, you've entrusted your life to me. Then if there's something you want, you should tell me whatever it is."
"You're somehow..."
"...?"
"The more I see you, the more you seem like a little old man."
"Do you know what I see first in patients who see me for the first time?"
"...?"
"Distrust. The distrust that a kid this young can treat them. There shouldn't be distrust between a patient and a doctor. If a patient doesn't trust the doctor, will they take their medicine properly, and will they be able to receive proper treatment?"
"So you've been acting like an old man who has lived through everything."
"Yes. As I tried to do that, my intuition grew like a sly snake. Well, anyway, is one year not enough?"
"I'd like to live for about two years."
"So that's how long it will take to teach him everything you want to teach him?"
"Yes."
"Then... there's no choice."
"Is there a way?"
"I brought it up because there is."
"What are you going to do? Your sister won't give you good medicine if you don't have money."
"If she doesn't give me medicine, I'll make it."
It was an unexpected statement.
Old Man Ban asked with a face that was half expectant, half curious, and slightly surprised.
"How are you going to make medicine?"
"I can just dig for the herbs myself."
A look of disappointment appeared on Old Man Ban's face.
"That makes sense, but..."
"If it makes sense, then we should do it."
"Herbs are not vegetables that grow in a field, it won't be easy."
"I'll go up the mountain once every three days. I'll take Stonehead with me, so on that day, ask Myung to bring you your meal."
When Cho Myung's story came up, a look of sudden realization appeared on Old Man Ban's face.
"Take that kid Myung with you too."
"I can't. He has to take care of you, old man."
"I can ask the kitchen for my meals. I'll eat breakfast and dinner with you guys, so I just need to ask for lunch."
"That's true, but what's the reason you're insisting on taking him?"
"The foundation of martial arts is a strong body. A rugged mountain is an excellent place to strengthen a martial artist's legs."
A martial artist ultimately strengthens their body.
That was the martial arts knowledge that Hua Yunhui knew. So it seemed to be true.
"Have you talked to Myung?"
"I'm about to."
"Don't force him."
"I have no intention of doing so. But he'll say he wants to learn."
"On what grounds are you so confident?"
"That kid and I have something in common."
Old Man Ban grinned at the suspicious Hua Yunhui.
It wasn't that they had something in common, but it was more appropriate to say that he had approached him as if they had something in common.
The reason he said it was fair to know each other's secrets and that they should be friends who protect each other until they reveal everything to everyone someday was to break down Cho Myung's wariness and make him learn what he wanted to teach.
Hua Yunhui, who did not know the situation, was curious about the basis of Old Man Ban's confidence.
But he didn't ask.
He decided not to interfere any further.
It was because Old Man Ban was not the type to do anything foolish to a child, and it seemed that learning martial arts would not be bad for Cho Myung either.
And since Old Man Ban, who had only been accepting death, would be able to spend his time with a purpose for a year or two while he was alive, he thought it was an even better thing.
"Today, I'll teach Stonehead about the necessary herbs, and tomorrow, I think I'll go up the mountain."
"Teach Myung too and take him with you."
"If Myung says he will."
"Let's do that."
The conversation stopped there.
It was because Seokcheong and Cho Myung had brought the meal.
"Today's lunch is chicken! It's so delicious!"
Seokcheong made a fuss.
His mouth was watering so much that he looked like he was about to drool.
"How do you know it's so delicious?"
"...!"
Seokcheong, who had placed the small table with the chicken on the table, made a flustered face.
"You tasted it on your way here!"
At Hua Yunhui's words, Seokcheong flinched and then laughed foolishly.
"I only had a small piece. I was going to ask them to remake it if it was salty because you don't like salty food, young master."
"Stonehead, even if that's true, which it probably isn't, how can you taste it first when there's an old man here? Let's at least maintain some hierarchy."
"Yes."
Seokcheong scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
Hua Yunhui, who knew well that Seokcheong was so simple-minded that he couldn't control his instincts well, ended it there and looked back at Old Man Ban.
"Old man, eat before it gets cold."
"Let's do that."
When Old Man Ban smiled and slowly sat up, Cho Myung quickly ran over and held his arm.
"Thank you."
"We promised to protect each other, didn't we?"
Cho Myung smiled brightly.
"That's right. We did."
Old Man Ban smiled with satisfaction and headed to the table with Cho Myung.
The four people who had gathered around the table began to eat the chicken, starting with Old Man Ban.
Old Man Ban, who had only been eating proper food for a few days, chewed very slowly and for a long time, and Hua Yunhui ate a small amount leisurely.
On the other hand, Seokcheong ate greedily as if someone would eat more, and Cho Myung, watching the three of them, ate less than Hua Yunhui and then stopped.
"Eat more."
Hua Yunhui said.
"I'm fine."
When Cho Myung waved his hand, Hua Yunhui pushed half of the remaining chicken in front of Cho Myung.
"Eat it all."
"Big brother Seokcheong is big, so he should eat more."
"He's all grown up, and you have to eat a lot more."
"What about you, big brother?"
"Me?"
"Yes."
"A doctor's senses become dull if they gain weight."
"Ah!"
Cho Myung made a face of admiration.
Although he didn't know for sure, since Hua Yunhui had said it, it somehow seemed cool.
"If you understand, eat all of that."
"Okay."
Cho Myung began to move his hands again.
He had never eaten such delicious and so much chicken in his life.
Cho Myung ate even more greedily than Seokcheong, even sucking his fingers.
"I'll have to ask for more from now on."
Seokcheong's eyes, as he stared at Cho Myung, were like those of a competitor wary of a rival.
"Did you stay at the main family to learn medicine or to eat?"
"Both."
Seokcheong, who had answered reflexively to Hua Yunhui's question, made a face as if he had made a mistake and looked back.
"Yes, now your true feelings are coming out."
"Hehe! There's no place that feeds you as well as here. Whether it's medicine or chores, I'll work hard at whatever you ask me to do, so please don't kick me out."
"You're going to live with me as a doctor for the rest of your life. I'm going to make you a doctor for sure. So don't go around saying nonsense like you'll do whatever I ask you to do."
"Yes, young master."
"In the afternoon, we have to go to the pharmacy, so after you clean this up, wash your hands and come there."
"Okay."
"And Myung...!"
Hua Yunhui, who had looked back at Cho Myung, frowned.
"Why do you drink so much water?"
"Ah, I was very thirsty."
Cho Myung put down the water pitcher and made an embarrassed face.
At that moment, Old Man Ban, who was staring at his face, said to Seokcheong.
"Cheong, you go to the kitchen and get whatever chicken is left. If there's no chicken, bring something else. Bring as much meat as possible. Quickly!"
When Old Man Ban shouted quite sternly, Seokcheong, who had gotten up in a daze, looked back at Hua Yunhui.
"Say I sent you."
Hua Yunhui, guessing that there must be a reason why Old Man Ban was doing that, said so.
Only then did Seokcheong run to the kitchen.
At this time, Cho Myung just stared blankly, and after a moment, Seokcheong returned.
It was an amount that seemed to be enough for three people, including chicken and the stir-fried pork they had eaten in the morning.
When Seokcheong placed it on the table, Old Man Ban said to Cho Myung.
"Eat."
"What?"
It was Seokcheong who showed a bewildered reaction.
At this time, Hua Yunhui made a face as if to say "Ah!", and Cho Myung couldn't take his eyes off the table.
(End of Chapter)